The Yellow Holly

Nothing could be prettier than her face and figure, and nothing more engaging than her manners. With her yellow hair, her charming face, and her melting blue eyes

ng in want of money--for her deceased father had been a general with nothing but his pay--played her cards so well with regard to her father-in-law, that he allowed her a good income

assume the role of a devoted mother, and--as she phrased it--to live again in her daughter. This was quite wrong, as Dorothy Ward was a slim, serious-minded girl of nineteen, not given to gayety, and was one who was anxious to marry a husband with mind rather than with money. How frivolous little Mrs. Ward came to have such a Puritan daughter no one ever could make out. She resembled her mother ne

e," said Mrs. Ward when the t

Summerslea," rejoine

ge Brendon," retorted her mother. "You

an, and a man whom any woman mig

osition. Who is he? What is his f

day, when he

y one cared two pins about that sort o

s of Summerslea. I know all about t

. Ward with supreme contempt. "Your fath

her claws. Her friends called her a kitten, but she was a cat in reality and could

iends that the young man would be sent to the right-about, and that Dorothy would be kept

t them meet they will not think of marriage, and I dare say Dorothy will get tired of Brendon. He is so shabby in his dress, and so poor, that after a

y of the "creature," as she called Brendon. She took to praising him on all occasions, and sometimes asked him to dinner. At the same time she constantly abused young Walter Vane, who was Lord Derrington's grandson and heir. He was the man she wishe

rit of his grandfathe

. "Oh, no, no! Lord Derrington is a terrible old man. Wer

your purpose," said her daughter, calmly, from which speech it will

at Hurlingham and Monte Carlo. The little woman always managed to keep on the right side, as she had no notion of losing her position in society, or the income which Lord Ransome allowed her; but within limits she was extremely fast. She generally had a number of young men at her heels, and made use of them in betting and in getting boxes for the th

eply. Then she saw that he gave evidence at the inquest, and two days later George made his appearance at the Curzon Street house. Mrs. Ward, who had been voluble in her expressions regarding Brendon's "love for low company," so she put it, sailed toward him with open hands. She always welc

r, "I am so glad to see you. The murder, you know. I saw your nam

, glancing round the room and seeing that Dorothy

ite exciting it is," she said. "I wonder who killed the poor wom

aback, but not thinking she had any intention in what she said, answered, soberly en

ssly. "But fancy knowing any one living in an out-of-the

Ward herself, but he suppressed this speech

made a fortune out of mustard, or coke, or

characters

pened her eyes. "

But he has left

said Mrs. Ward. "Dorothy will be down soon, but meantime t

ey had been reported by the press, but concerning the confidence of Leonard he kept sil

not," replied Brendon, wond

row some light on the

went to bed at eleven and slept sound

a moment. "Does Mr.

It was strange, he thought, that Mrs. Ward should take such a profound interest in this case. He had never before heard her talk on such a subject. To add to his perplexity, he saw that, in spite of her rouge,

y, "and I know well enough that you admire my daughter. You are poor, you

that," began Ge

twithstanding all these disadvantages, I made up my mind to place n

es me, M

t stand at that. But in spite of your poverty and obscurity--" Brendon winced, for Mrs. Ward's tone w

ly at her. "Now we come to the point. Un

do you

to a low house, and while you are t

on. "Good heavens, Mrs. Ward, y

sant for my daughter to have a husban

ed up with it

ind out who killed that woman and I say nothing. But until you do find out, and until th

o leave the way clear for Walter Vane. But he was too strong a man to be foiled in this

, well, there is no reason why you should not. But it will be f

," cried George,

lightly and replied, in her most kittenish way, "Ah, my d

George looked

I have heard all abou

onnection with that lad

he particulars. Such creatures are nothing to me. And if you clear yourself of this very sh

need to overl

y's mother I have some power, I hope. Now I will send her to you, and you can say what you like--in fact, you can communicate to her the state of my feelings.

aid Brendon,

in the world I should like for my son-in-law. Marry that da

circumstances of his meeting and of his philanthropy to Dorothy, she was a woman, when all was said and done, and might not believe him. On the whole, he decided to take Mrs. Ward's advice and hold his tongue on the subject of the dancer. On some future occasion

aid Dorothy in her soft voice as they sa

ngaged,

t the inquest which was he

an interest in th

house, and it was so strange that she

fortably. "I really think she believes th

y, serenely; "but mother does not

es me yo

ink she does. But you know what my mother is. I--no, if I cannot say good of

God for the gift of so steadfast a heart. For a few minutes silenc

thy Ward might have had Moorish blood in her veins. Perhaps she had, as one of her father's ancestors, when ambassador to Madrid in the reign of the first James, had brought back with him a Spanish wife. And Dorothy inherite

tremely handsome couple. Certainly they might have appeared happier, for Dorothy was downcast, and in Brendon's blue eyes there l

ughts, George," she s

loser, and then he took his courage in both hands for the neces

in surprise. "Wh

moth

in the girl, petulantly. "I know s

he would not object if I could clear

d she accus

she meant. The fact that I slept in that house on the night Mrs. Jersey was

lusively that you have

The key of the sitting-room door was in his possession, and to get out I should have had

d Dorothy, seeing

w if I ought

s hand to her heart. "You know that I love you as dearly a

have that effect," was Brendon's reply, "but

n amazement. "About you

l, and I know you will not be

" said Dorothy, vehem

etailed how he had gone to seek Mrs. Jersey, and how she had been murdered before he could get the truth out of her. "Or even see her," finished George. "And no

that is concerned," said Dorothy, quickly. "

nt your advice, Dorothy, and will be guided by it. What shall I do? You se

ot adv

arson and those who know about the marriage may be dead. In fact, it is extremely probable that they are. Mrs. Jersey was present as my mother's maid, and she might have been able to tell me where the church is

seen him a

was pointed out to me. I

inds me of one of those Italian despots. There is nothing

e things he desires to do are of the kind

pause, "do you think he has an

ertainty. "He does not know--at all events from me--that I am seeking for a restitution of my rights, and there

wed Madame an annuity. Had he known this much he might have been able to shape his course better; but, being in

get back my birthr

ragged into thi

per position in society. You know I would marry you as you are, and defy my mother and the world. But

George, taking heart from her firm tone; "and the

s he,

rington. He will know all about the marriage, and may be able to indicate where my parents went when they eloped. I have never asked him for a detailed st

se. "I shall say nothing to my mother or to

but we will probably have to meet elsewhere, as you

to her," said D

angry and make things harder for you, my

when a thought occurred to him. He re-entered and closed the door. "Dorothy,"

ly; "and to tell you the truth, George, I thought that the

ou mean,

Mr. Train, and that she could set her mind at rest, as I should not see you for a few days. She seemed pleased, and taki

that you had faste

d said it would please you. Wh

g," he replied, suppressing the

t know where my mo

ed by the sight of the holly. Mrs. Ward had given the sprig to Dorothy, who had presented